Illuminated sign



Feb. 10, 1931; F. SCHAEFER I ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Oct. 28, 1927 INVENTOR fiw/r/r jcfiae/r WTORN; Y5

Patented Feb. 10, I931 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK SGHAEFER, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO AMERI- CAN SIGNS CORPORATION,

OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN ILLUMINATED SIGN Application filed October 28, 1927. Serial No. 229,315.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an illuminated sign employing gaseous tube lamps in which the tubes are conformed to the shape of the letter, which is highl attractive when illuminated and also is effective as a sign when not illuminated.

Second, to provide an illuminated sign em-.

ploying gaseous tube lamps in which the lamps are thoroughly housed and protected and at the same time the advantages of the use of such lamp are secured.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from 16 the description to follow. The invention is defined. in the claims. I

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a sign embodying the features of my invention.

Fi 2 is a vertical section on a line corre sponding to line 22 of'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the face or character panels, the panel illustrated having the letter N thereon.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a gaIseous tube lamp in the form of the letter Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the casing 1 is adapted .to receive a series of face or character panels as 2, 3, 4, and 5,. the characters represented being the letters S, I, G and N. These panels are formed of glass or other suitable transparent material and have raised portions 6 forming the characters. .These raised portions are pressed into or formed integrally with the panel when the panel is molded or formed and are of channel cross section, that is, they are formed so as to provide interior channels 7, the thickness of the raised portion when formed being substantially that of the body of the panel.

To provide an effective background to receive a coatingforming a clear-cut border for the transparent central raised portion 8, I sandblast portions 9 of the raised portions,

removing substantial parts of the surface thereof, thereby leaving a transparent raised I surface 8 between these sanded portions.

This is accomplished by covering the surface coated with a suitable material as indicated at 10 and the body of the panel is painted or coated as indicated at 11 to render both the body and this sanded surface opaque. The coatings 10 and 11 are preferably of contrasting colors, in which case the characters are presented in outline of substantial width so that the sign is suitable as a day sign when not illuminated. While I prefer in practice to use the sandblast for roughening and reducing the glass this may be done by etching or treating with a suitable acid.

. Lamps 12 of the gaseous or vapor type, preferably neon gas lamps, are shaped to correspond to the character and align with the transparent portion 8. These lamps are arranged in the channel so that when illuminated the transparent portion is illuminated and a clear outline is presented, the glow or aurora-like effect commonly incident to this character of lamp being eliminated from the sign.

Another advantage is that the lamps are entirely protected and at the same time the effect resulting from the use of the gaseous or vapor tube lamps is secured.

I have illustrated my improvements-in a simple adaptation whichI believe will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt y improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sign, the combination of a face panel of transparent material having an integral raised character outline therein providing an internal channel corresponding in shape to the character, portions of the raised surface of the character at each side of a central strip being sandblasted or etched producing spaced roughened surfaces with a raised intermediate transparent surface of uniform width, the body of the panel and said roughened surface of the character being painted distinguishing colors providing a painted character in outline, and a gaseous tube lamp of the shape of the character disposed in said channel in alignment with the said transparent portion of said character. 2 In a sign, the combination of a face i panel of transparent material having an integral raised character outline therein pro viding an internal channel corresponding in shape to the character, portions of the raised surface of the character at each side of a central strip like surface of uniform width being roughened, the roughened surface of the character being coated rendering it i opaque, and a gaseous tube lamp of the shape of the character disposed in said channel in alignment with the said transparent portion of said character. 1

3. In a. sign, the combination of a face panel 2g of transparent material having spaced roughened surfaces corresponding in shape to the shape of the character providing a raised intermediate transparent surface, the body of the panel and said roughened surfaces of the character being painted distinguishing colors providing a painted character in outline, and a gaseous tube lamp of the shape of the character disposed in said channel in alignment with the said transparent portion of said 80 character.

4. Ina sign, the combination of a face panel of transparent material having spaced roughened strips corresponding in shape to the shape of the character providing a raised in- 35 termediate transparent surface, the said roughened surfaces of the character being coated to render it opaque, and a gaseous tube lamp of the shape of the character disposed in said channel in alignment with the said transparent portion of said character.

5. In a sign, the combination of a face panel of transparent material having a raised character outline therein providing an internal channel corresponding to the shape of the character, portions of the panel at the side of the raised portion being coated to render them opaque, and a gaseous tube lamp of the shepe of the character disposed in said channe 6. In a sign, the combination of a face panel of glass having a raised character stroke thereon, a portion of the surface of said character stroke extending substantially throughout the length thereof being roughened and 55 coated to render them opaque, the remainder of said character stroke portion of said panel being uncoated, and a gaseous tube lamp of the shape of the character disposed in the channel of the character stroke.

86 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK SCHAEFER. 

